Washington, D.C. 2015 {Days Three & Four}

After a very dramatic and crazy cab ride home on Monday night, I got to bed late, so I slept in a bit on Tuesday, and woke up to snow on the ground.  I ordered room service, and enjoyed watching it continue to snow out the windows in my room.

I eventually headed up to Capitol Hill for the opening of the 114th Congress, and I enjoyed the view of a snowy DC on the drive...

I was actually in DC because I had been invited to view the swearing in of Senator Cory Booker, and attend a reception.  I went 14 months prior for a similar event, because he had won a special election in October 2013, but he won a full 6 year term this past November.  

I had invited someone I met at the 2013 event to meet me in DC for this event, so we rode to the event together.  As we were approaching the Senate Office Building, I thought to myself "that looks like Cory walking down the street".  I didn't say anything about it.  When the cab stopped, we hopped out, crossed the street, and Sara ran inside as fast as possible.  I stopped and gazed down the street to see if that really was Cory coming toward me.  It was!  He was about to cross the street so that we were on the same block, so I waved, and he waved back, and then he told the call he was on to hold on, and we chit-chatted for a few minutes.  It went something like this:

me: "Hey!  I'm came here to see you, and I get out of the cab and here you are!"

him: "I'm glad you stopped and waved at me"

me: "of course!  I came from Texas to see you again"

him: "That's awesome.  How are you liking this snowy weather?"

me: "oh, it was colder in Texas when I left, so it's fine"

him: "are you going to be at the reception later?"

me: "you bet.  See you there"

....Cut to me walking into the senate office building....

sara: "where have you been?"

me: "talking to cory out on the street"

sara: "what?!?!"

me: "yeah, I thought I saw him as we were driving up, but when we got out and I finally determined it was him, but you had already ran inside"

sara: "how did I miss that?!"

I had a good time chatting with an interesting collection of people before and after the swearing in.  Again we saw "America's Rabbi," Shmuley Boteach.  He had his kids take pics of us, so I gave them my phone and had them get a snap too...

I had lunch there in the Senate building and then went to Cory's office for a tour.  We were cutting it close to the afternoon reception, and didn't think we were going to get a tour, but one of his staffers went to law school in Texas, so we bonded over talk of queso, and he gave us the tour.  As we rounded one of the corners, I almost collided with Cory.  He said something like "Well hello again!".  My friend Sara was already around the corner, and she just shook her head and said "You are getting serious face time with the Senator today!"

The afternoon reception was great.  No, it was better than great, and not just because they had a big cake ;-) 

I had such a good time, and got to stand less than 6 feet away from a total of 6 US Senators.  Several came to speak about Cory and what a great member of the Senate he has been over the past 14 months.  We heard from Senators Menendez (New Jersey), Coons (Delaware), Schumer (New York), Merkley (Oregon), and Cardin (Maryland).

I only took my phone with me that day, and not my real camera, so pics aren't super.

I just think all these candids are hilarious.  We were having fun.

But we had some serious discussions too...

Criminal Justice Reform was our topic of conversation here

After we left Capitol Hill, we made a stop at the W hotel.  We went up to their rooftop bar, and enjoyed the view.  Here is a pic of my drink, the ice-cycles, and the White House...

{Day Four}

I saw the news on Tuesday evening, and they showed the Panda cubs playing in the snow at the DC Zoo, so when I woke up on Wednesday morning, I packed quickly and booked it to the zoo.  I wanted to see Pandas playing in the snow!  Needless to say, the zoo was NOT crowded.  It was COLD!

The pandas were not playing in the snow, but were eating their breakfast in the Panda House

I didn't really have time to see any other animals.  I went back to the hotel, collected my bags, and headed to the airport...but not without making the cab pull over for me to take a few snowy DC pics!

and then a few pics out the cab window...

I'm thrilled it snowed while I was in DC!  I love snow and love seeing cities in their winter wonderland state.  It was another great trip!